Conover, North Carolina

Nestled in the heart of North Carolina is a tranquil town that owes its existence to the railroad industry. Since its official chartering over 130 years ago, Conover has grown into a town with a strong economy that produces over 40 percent of the world’s fiber optic cable supply.

When Conover began to develop in the mid 1800s, it was primarily used as a “Y” intersection for trains traveling through North Carolina. Because of this, the town was quickly dubbed “Wye Town” before later becoming Canova, and eventually Conover. The name Conover, according to legend, is the result of incorrect transposing over several years, and in 1876 the city of Conover was officially chartered.

“ Conover is just 50 miles northwest of Charlotte—perfect for anyone wanting a rural residence just a short drive away from the hustle and bustle of the city. ”

Like many small American towns, Conover has its own town mystery that will leave future generations scratching their heads and asking, “What happened?” In the mid 1970s, Conover residents were shocked to discover the town’s historic train station had disappeared overnight. To this day, no trace of the station has been found. Perhaps a team of thieves worked quickly throughout the night and transported it to another location. Or perhaps it was demolished to make room for a new station that was never built. Whatever happened, Conover residents will continue to miss the venerable landmark and ponder where it may have gone.

Conover is located in the western piedmont of North Carolina and is home to more than 6,700 people. This peaceful town is just 50 miles northwest of Charlotte— perfect for anyone wanting a rural residence just a short drive away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

The town’s economy continues to grow due to the area’s diversified manufacturing and commercial businesses. Conover is well known for its textile and furniture industries, and is home to three major fiber optic manufacturing companies. Recently, Outlook America, a business magazine, ranked Conover as the numberone city for manufacturing in the country for cities with less than 50,000 residents.

In fact, the town’s economy is so strong the population of Conover quadruples to 24,000 each weekday, as tens of thousands of people commute in for work. Still the primary draw for Conover residents is the combination of its charming rural character and its proximity to the services of a major city.